Gripping tale of the epic 1839 voyage of the schooner Amistad and her cargo of Africans bound for slavery in the New World. The Africans revolt, seize the ship, and start for home, but instead of reaching Africa they land in New England. Are they rebellious slaves and mutineers or honest men and women who sought to regain their freedom? That is the question former president John Quincy Adams seeks to answer when he defends them before the Supreme Court. The subject of a critically acclaimed motion picture, the story of the Amistad is told here in an exciting, readable style that will thrill young readers with its "you-are-there" flavor and accurate and dignified portrayal of the central characters.